Research articles

European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC)

European Technology Platforms (ETPs) are industry-led stakeholders that develop short to long-term research and innovation agendas and roadmaps for action at EU and national level to be supported by both private and public funding. ERRAC was set up in 2001 with the ambitious goal of creating a single European body with both the competence and capability to help revitalise the European rail sector and make it more competitive, by fostering increased innovation and guiding research efforts at European level.

ERRAC includes 45 representatives from each of the major European rail research stakeholders : manufacturers, operators, infrastructure managers, the European Commission, EU Member States, academics and users’ groups. ERRAC covers all forms of rail transport : from conventional, high speed and freight applications to urban and regional services.

As a member of ERRAC, UIC represents the interests of the Rail Operating Community in the establishment of research and innovation priorities of the European rail sector, in close collaboration with all the stakeholders of the platform. Through its commitment in ERRAC, UIC defends the position of its European members in the definition of the rail R&I policy at the European level, especially in the establishment of a Strategic Rail Research and Innovation Agenda and technology roadmaps. Finally, as ERRAC is the principal contact regarding rail research and innovation at the European level, UIC supports, through the platform, the dialogue between the Rail Operating Community and the European Commission to identify needs and find solutions to implement the Single European Railway Area.

UIC also supports the activities of the platform with an active role in the secretariat of the platform together with the European manufacturing industry (UNIFE).